DENVER – Though it didn’t happen, Juwan Howard might still be a Knick one day.

The Knicks tried desperately to pry Howard from Dallas at the Feb. 21 trading deadline for Marcus Camby, Charlie Ward and Shandon Anderson. Howard privately wished the talks came to fruition but instead he wound up in Denver in the seven-player blockbuster that shipped Raef LaFrentz and Nick Van Exel to Dallas.

Howard, who likes New York, will become a free agent after next season. The Nuggets are unlikely to deal Howard to the Knicks over the summer – unless a third team is involved.

Denver wants to clear cap space for the spectacular free agent class of 2002-2003 and Howard’s $19M would come off the cap. Denver, which has no interest in any Knick players, will have more cap room than any team in the league.

“It may happen one day,” said Howard, who is thriving as a Nugget, averaging 21.2 points and 8.2 rebounds in six games. “You never know because my name’s only mentioned with New York. It’s nice to know. New York would be a pretty nice situation if it ever happens. Great city. First-class organization.”

The deal made sense for the Knicks, as they would get an immediate boost to the frontline since Camby was injured. It also appeared the Knicks were seeking some cap relief like Denver, with Howard’s contract expiring after 2002-2003.

Asked if he would prefer Knicks or Nuggets, Howard laughed hard and said, “I can’t answer that one, I got to keep that one to myself.”

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GM Scott Layden gets another reminder tonight on how badly his 2001 draft went. Layden passed on Utah’s current starting rookie center Jarron Collins twice in the second round.

Collins, whom the Knicks worked out and whose twin brother was a first-round pick for the Nets, was taken 53rd by Utah. Layden took Michael Wright at 39 and Eric Chenowith at 43 – neither of whom made the team.